The Philadelphia Chapter of the

National Railway Historical Society

Established in 1936

It may not be the land of the midnight sun, but for the next couple weeks we will be experiencing the earliest sunrises of the year, and as photographers should take advantage of every photon at our disposal.

For instance, there are only three freight jobs out of the CSX Yard in my back yard, Lansdale PA: Lansdale to Philadelphia run C746, and local jobs B745 and B738. The first two are almost exclusively nocturnal, but this time of year they frequently return home just after dawn.

First to roll in at 5:42, nine minutes after sunrise, was B745, back from its trip to Warminster PA. Since its main jobs are on the Doylestown and Warminster Branches, B738 starts work after the last SEPTA commuter runs of the night. After servicing busy Lansdale Warehouse on the Doylestown Branch, they usually run straight down the SEPTA Main to Carmel Interlocking in Glenside PA before reversing up the Warminster Branch to interchange with the New Hope and Ivyland Railroad, and return to Lansdale. Through the light morning fog, CSX GP38-2 2677 (former L&N 6026) pulls into town, past the southbound signals of Dale Interlocking, with the box cars gathered from Lansdale Warehouse, including CR 376150, a Class B63 box car still wearing its large Conrail can opener logo.

All pictures June 2 2006 Copyright © 2006 John P. Almeida

Photographs for personal use only. All rights reserved by original owner of image. Reproduction or redistribution in any form without express written permission is prohibited.